October 15, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 15, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Coast Oncology will be the first in Northeast Florida to install the AccuBoost breast cancer radiotherapy system in its Mandarin office located at 10881 San Jose Boulevard. It is anticipated the first patient will be treated in early November 2008.

The AccuBoost system is designed to treat breast cancer and is an image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) technique that uses high-dose radiation (HDR) brachytherapy to deliver a focused dose to the lumpectomy site.

"We believe AccuBoost will greatly benefit our patients and are honored to offer the only system here on the First Coast," said Scot Ackerman, M.D., Board-Certified Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director of First Coast Oncology. "The initial boost phase of a breast cancer patient's treatment is critical and having a system that ensures accuracy and consistency will even further improve patient outcomes."

Following a lumpectomy, most women undergo whole breast irradiation (WBI), which includes a very important "boost" phase. According to Dr. Ackerman, "The boost dose is an important ingredient of the full course of radiation therapy and is delivered to the tissue adjacent to the surgical excision, an area from which most cancer recurrences originate. The added boost dose to the surgical margin has been shown to provide additional protection against recurrence."

The patient's breast is immobilized and then imaged in real time to locate the lumpectomy cavity and determine the size and position of the applicator to be used for delivering the radiation.

AccuBoost is designed to accurately target the radiation dose. "Using the AccuBoost allows you to see what you treat and treat what you see." stated Piran Sioshansi, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Radiation Therapy, the company which makes AccuBoost. Dr. Sioshansi continued, "We are glad First Coast Oncology has selected the most advanced image-guided technology for the benefit of their patients."

"Women in the First Coast area will now have access to this new non-invasive process, that can better target the radiation to the site where their cancer was removed. We believe that every woman deserves this added confidence," added Bruce Taylor, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at AccuBoost.

Our practice is dedicated to advancing the understanding, treatment, and prevention of cancer through research, advocacy, and community service. For more information, visit www.firstcoastoncology.com or www.AccuBoost.com.

Interviews available upon request.

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